Content data reproduction program

ABSTRACT

The present apparatus offers a file data playback program that can restrict playback with certainty, without barring the communication of information to users, even if it is used for playback of files that are frequently played back and stopped repeatedly. This is the file data playback program for operating a computer as the playback means and playback stop means of file data. Playback is started from the position which the playback start position pointer  53  indicates. The apparatus has the processing which stops a playback and the processing which updates the playback start position pointer  53  in a playback stop position. The playback start position pointer  53  is updated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to playing back of files for which paymentis required, and which often carry out stop processes at the moment ofplayback, and further relates to file data playback programs that canplace restrictions on the condition of playback.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently a lot of systems that play back various file data withcomputers or the Internet have been used. Generally, these playbacksystems can play back repeatedly when necessary, and providers of filesset their prices accordingly. However, in some cases, file users want toget files at cheaper prices even if the number of times of playback, forexample, is limited. In these cases, a playback system that limits thenumber of times of playback etc. is necessary.

For example, in the official bulletin on Japanese Patent Publication No.2000-347696, the playback apparatus is disclosed after definition of onetime of playback is given.

In the official bulletin on Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-290709,the method of providing file data that transfers playback conditionssuch as playback permitted periods, repeating times of playback etc.,and controls playback based those provisions.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, it is difficult to apply the apparatus of the prior art to thecases that frequently stop playback of the files, like educational ones,during playback.

That is, although in the apparatus disclosed in the official bulletin onJapanese Patent Publication No. 2000-347696, which aims at music dataetc. stored in memory cards, playback can be done repeatedly unless itcorresponds to the definition of one time of playback, it cannot becompletely restricted in the case of above-mentioned files because inthis case to define on time of playback itself is difficult.

Moreover, the apparatus disclosed in the official bulletin on JapanesePatent Publication No. 2001-290709 discloses only measurement ofrepeating times of playback and restriction of playback by a comparisonwith transferred playback condition, without disclosure of process inthe case that playback is stopped before completion.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above. Thepresent invention relates to a file data playback program, a file datadistribution server etc. The file data playback program can certainlyrestrict playback without disturbing the information communicated to theaudience.

An aspect of the present invention is a file data playback program inorder to function computers as means to play back file data and a meansto stop playing them back; wherein the means to play back file data aremeans to start playback from the position indicated by a playback startposition pointer, and the means to stop playing back file data are meansto carry out a step of stopping playback, and a step of renewing saidplayback start position pointer at the playback stop position, whereinsaid playback start position pointer is renewed with said means to stopplaying back file data.

According to this file data playback program, when the user pushes theplayback or similar button, means to play back file data starts playbackof file data from the position indicated by a playback start positionpointer. Then, when the user pushes the stop or similar button, means tostop playing them back stops playback and sets the playback startposition pointer at the playback stop position.

When playback is subsequently imitated, as means to play back restartsplayback from the position that the playback start position pointerwhich is previously set indicates, playback can be continued from theposition where it was stopped previously.

Therefore, the file data playback program can play back filescontinually even if playback and stop are carried out repeatedly.However, files played back once are not played back again because theplayback start position pointer is set at the position where playbackstopped by means to stop playback. Hence, if it is used for playback offiles for which payment is required that are frequently played back andstopped repeatedly, it becomes possible to restrict playback withoutdamaging the files.

In another aspect of the present invention, playback start positionpointer is renewed not only by means to stop playback but also a meansto control the pointer.

Although a means to control the pointer returns position information tothe part which has already been played back when it is desirable to playback files by pushing the rewind button, for example, such a function isstopped after the prescribed playback condition is fulfilled.

Therefore, the file data playback program can play back filescontinually even if playback and stop are carried out repeatedly on onehand, and it can control the once played-back part is played backrepeatedly under prescribed conditions. Therefore, if it is used to playthe file which permits the repetition of playback of a small number oftimes, it becomes possible to control the playback conditions.

A still further aspect of the present invention relates to the file dataplayback program of the previous aspects wherein after ending aplayback, it has a means to delete the played back file data. Accordingto this file data playback program, it becomes possible to controlplayback with certainty because this program can delete the played backfile data.

A still further aspect of the present invention relates to the file dataplayback program described in previous aspects wherein the playback stopmeans has the processing to delete the played back file data. Accordingto this file data playback program, it becomes possible to controlplayback with certainty because the deletion of the played back filedata which ended the playback is performed when playback stops.

A still further aspect of the present invention is the storage mediumwith which said programs were stored, and can start a computer in theway described above by communicating with a computer and loading theprogram.

A still further aspect of the present invention is the server wherein itis possible to distribute said program to a user terminal via acommunication network, and it also becomes possible to distribute thisprogram to many users easily.

A still further aspect of the present invention is the file datadistribution system which comprises the program distribution serverdescribed above, the file distribution server and user terminal. Thissystem makes it possible to distribute the file data which has playbackrestrictions immediately and easily via a communication network.

A still further aspect of the present invention can distribute the filedata which has a playback restriction on real time using what is calledstreaming distribution. Moreover it becomes possible to control playbackwith certainty by managing distribution with a server.

In a still further aspect of the present invention, it is possible toplay back the file which permits the small repetition of playback withrestriction with certainty, even if in the case of streamingdistribution.

Note that the term “file data” in this invention corresponds to digitalinformation and data, such as characters, voices, and images, andcomputer programs. It includes digital music, movies, and novels, andalso includes software games. In addition, the term playback correspondsto the following: (1) outputting music sounds to the speakers of userterminals designed for digital music, (2) showing movies on the displaysof user terminals designed for digital movies, (3) showing novels on thedisplays designed for digital novels, (4) making software gamesavailable on the user terminals designed for software games.

Besides, contents suitable for this invention is information which hasvalue even if it is played back one time or a small number of times. Forexample, educational information, a movie, live recordings, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the general structure of the filedistribution system of one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the general structure of the filedistribution server of one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart to demonstrate the registration process at theuser-registering module for one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram to illustrate the divide-and-spread process of thedigital file data for one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart to illustrate the distribution process at thetransferring module for one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart to show the playback process for one aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart to illustrate the distribution process at thetransferring module for one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the general structure of the fileplayback program for one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the general structure of the file datadistribution server one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Details of one way of implementation for the present invention will bedescribed below using the attached figures. FIG. 8 is a block diagramshowing the general structure of the file playback program for the wayof its implementation.

As shown in FIG. 8 the file playback program 5 of this particular aspectoperates a computer as the playback means 51 and a playback stop means52, inputs file data D, and plays a file back to the CRT display ofuser-terminal equipment 4 etc.

The playback means 51 plays file data back by pushing the playbackbutton P from the position indicated by the playback start positionpointer 53. Although a specific playback step differs according to thekind of target file data, it includes the case where various outputs ofwhich an image and voice are output and also appeals to the senses, thecase where it outputs interactively, performing the input from a user.

Moreover, it is desirable that the playback start position pointer 53 isupdated by only the playback stop means 52 because if the playback startposition pointer 53 is easily updated by other means, it will becomepossible to play back freely by each user, and control of playback isnot attained.

The playback stop means 52 stops playing back by pushing stop button Sand performs processing which updates said playback start positionpointer 53 in the playback stop position other than the processing whichcarries out a playback stop.

If an example of this processing is explained, after playback stopinstruction is input and it performs playback stop processing first, itis processing which updates the contents of the playback stop positionpointer to the present playback position information, and is processingwhich performs stop processing, after updating the contents of theplayback start position pointer 53 to the present playback positioninformation.

Moreover, the playback start position pointer 53 being updated by theplayback stop means 52 only is desirable. If the playback start positionpointer 53 is easily updated by other means, it will become possible toplay back freely by each user, and the purpose of this invention tocontrol playback is not attained.

However, after fulfilling the prescribed playback conditions, it isdesirable to change the numerical value of a playback start positionpointer by establishing the pointer control means 54 which suspends theupdating function of the playback position pointer 53 after fulfillingthe prescribed playback conditions. That is, if it is the pointercontrol means 54, playback control of rewinding is possible until itsatisfies the prescribed playback conditions, on the other hand, afterfulfilling prescribed conditions, free playback processing can be madeimpossible and playback control can be carried out.

In addition, the prescribed playback conditions are the prescribednumber of times of a playback, playback time, a period, etc.:

In the case of the number of times of playback, it determines whetherthe prescribed playback conditions are satisfied with carrying out theincrement of the counter, whenever it performs playback processing tothe last of a file of prescribed playback conditions.

In the case of playback time, it determines whether the prescribedplayback conditions are satisfied with carrying forward a timer duringplayback and timing the additional time.

In the case of a prescribed period, it determines whether the prescribedplayback conditions are satisfied by comparing the prescribed time to abuilt-in clock.

The updating function of a pointer control means 54 to suspend thefunction after fulfilling prescribed playback conditions is theso-called rewinding processing which returns the position of a pointerto the part which already ended playback.

Furthermore, this file data playback program 5 may have a means todelete the file data which ended the playback. That is, when itdetermines prescribed playback conditions were satisfied like the above,it performs processing which deletes the file data of the part whichalready completed playback. Thereby, after satisfying prescribedplayback conditions, it can control the file data not to be played backagain with certainty.

It may have means to delete this file data by carrying out one processof the playback stop means 52. In this case, the playback stop means 52performs processing which deletes the file data of the part whichalready ended the playback, after performing a process which carries outa playback stop.

The above-mentioned file data playback program may be distributed usingrecording media, such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM, or via a communicationnetwork.

As a latter example, the case that a file data playback program and filedata are distributed using the Internet is explained.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the outline composition of thisdistribution system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the outlinecomposition of the server for distribution used by this system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the file distribution system 1 of this particularway of implementation is composed of a distribution server 2 andmultiple user terminals 4, all of which are connected via the internet 3etc. The distribution server 2 functions as a server with CGI script andthe internet servers such as WWW servers. Each of the user terminals 4functions as a client with browsers.

The distribution server 2 is a computer with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and harddiscs. As shown in FIG. 2, it has some function components such as a webpage processing unit 21, a user-registration processing unit 22, auser-registration information memory 23, a contents data memory 24, aprogram memory 25, a transfer-processing unit 26, and a communicationinterface 27. The server is connected to the Internet 3 with thecommunication interface 27.

The web page processing unit 21 is a processing unit which opens up homepages on the Internet 3 for file distribution. Through these home pages,several processes are carried out such as user registration, transfer ofthe above mentioned file playback program, and distribution of digitalfiles.

The user-registration processing unit 22 registers system-userinformation inputted from the user terminals 4 with the home pages. Indetail, as shown in FIG. 3, when a user's registration information suchas name, address, credit card number, e-mail address, password, etc, isinput through the user terminal 4 (step S1), the user-registrationprocessing unit 22 receives the information (step S2). Then the unitassigns an ID number to the user, and transfers it to the user terminal4 (step S3). Each of the received user information and the assigned IDnumber is then stored in the user-registration information memory 23(step S4). The screen of the user terminal 4 displays the transferred IDnumber (step S5) so that the user can see the number and subsequentlywrite it down if desired.

The contents data memory 24 stores various digital file data such asinformation data including characters, voices, and images (novels,essays, music, movies, pictures, paintings, designs, etc), and computerprograms (software games).

The program memory 25 stores the file data playback program, such as themanagement program of transferring of data and a cipher key, which aretransferred to the user terminal 4, and are run or used in the terminal.

The transfer-processing unit 26 transfers the file playback programetc., which are stored in the program memory 25, in response to therequest from the user terminal 4. The unit also loads requested digitalfile data from the file data memory 24, and it transfers them to theuser terminal 4.

Distribution of the program concerned is simply attained instantly tomany users by such a file distribution system.

Furthermore, use of file information can be controlled still morecertainly by distributing the control program explained below inaddition to a file data playback program.

That is, said management program is started on the user terminal 4 andcarries out the following six processes; (1) making the storage space inthe memory of user terminal 4 for digital file data to be transferredfrom the transfer-processing unit 26; (2) storing the transferreddigital file data and deletion condition data into the storage spacemade in the previous process, after converting them intodivided-and-spread data group according to a rule set in advance; (3)re-storing the converted file data to original digital file data, byre-converting the converted data stored in the memory according to thesetting rule; (4) decrypting the restored digital file data; (5) playingback the decrypted digital file data on the user terminal 4; and (6)checking if the deletion conditions are fulfilled, and if they arefulfilled, the program deletes the converted file data stored in thememory.

More details of the transfer-processing unit 26 and the managementprogram process will be explained below, using FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

First, the distribution process of the files is described based on FIG.5. As shown in FIG. 5, when a user terminal 4 inputs a request fortransfer of user information such as an ID number and a password or thatof a management program via web pages (step S11), thetransfer-processing unit 26 receives the request (step S12). Then, thetransfer-processing unit 26 loads the requested management program and acipher key from the program memory 25, and sets a conversion rule forthe divide-and-spread process of the digital contents. The conversionrule is unique to each one of its users' files (step S13). The setconversion rule data is transferred together with the management programand the cipher key to the requesting user terminal 4 (step S14), andthen they are stored in the user terminal 4 (step S15).

Next, when the transferred management program is started on the userterminal 4 (step S16), this management program makes storage space inthe memory of the user terminal 4 for storing digital file data to betransferred from the file distribution server 2 (step S17).Specifically, as shown schematically in FIG. 4, the program setstwo-dimensional storage space with addresses in vertical (Y) andhorizontal (X) dimensions. The size of the storage space is adjustedaccording to the amount of data to be stored in the space.

After the setting of the storage space, the management program enablesthe user terminal 4 to request a file from the file distribution server2 (step S18). In other words, the program opens communication betweenthe file distribution server 2 and the user terminal 4, and displays afile list, which is stored in the file data memory 24 of the filedistribution server 2, on the screen of the user terminal 4. Then, theprogram makes it possible for user to select desired files from thedisplayed list, or to enter the playback conditions.

Then, after the necessary information of the playback conditions isfixed on the user terminal 4 (step S18), it is transferred to the filedistribution server 2, and received by the transfer-processing unit 26(step S19).

By receiving the input from the user terminal 4, the transfer-processingunit 26 loads requested digital file data from the file data memory 24(step S20). Then, the transfer-processing unit 26 adds the deletioncondition to the loaded digital file data (step S21), and afterencrypting the data, transfers them to the user terminal 4 (step S23).Now, considering the playback process that will be done later, thedeletion condition is desirable to be a fixed-size data and to beinserted in the head of the digital file data. Thus, the presentinvention adopted this procedure.

After receiving the encrypted digital file data and the deletioncondition that is added to it, the management program run on the userterminal 4 converts the received data into the divided-and-spread datagroup according to the conversion rule (file data conversion, step S24).Then, the program stores the data into the storage space so as to makethe data discontinuous partly or completely (step S25).

The specific way of the divide-and-spread process is as the following.First, the received data is sequentially divided into segments withpredetermined size. Then, the divided data is stored in the memory withthe address calculated by the formula,X=P×α+βwhere P is constant assigned for and unique to each user, α is aninteger that has the value form 1 to n, and β is an integer with thevalue from 0 to m. Also, n depends on horizontal size of the storagespace, and m depends on P. In this case, the conversion rule is theformula, and the term “conversion to divided-and-spread data group”corresponds to the action of storing the digital file data into thestorage space after dividing and spreading.

More specifically, the management program sets the address of Y=1 andthe value of β=0, and then it changes α sequentially from 1 to n. Usingthese values, the program calculated address X with the formula shownabove, and stores divided data in the storage space corresponding to thecalculated address (X, Y=1). Afterwards, changing the address Y from 2to a fixed maximum value, and setting β=0 and changing α from 1 to n,the program calculates address X by changing β from 1 to m sequentiallyand iterating the same process. And then the program stores divided datasequentially in the derived address (X, Y).

FIG. 4 shows the way of storing the divided file data (A1-A65) in theaddress calculated above, by setting the maximum value of address X=11,that of address Y=10, P=4, α=1 to 2, and β=0 to 3. The divided file datais not stored in the space of address X=1 to 3.

In this way, the term “partly discontinuous” is defined as the state inwhich there are other data between the divided file data stored inX-directionally, if the direction of data reading is X-direction.Similarly, the term “completely discontinuous” is defined as the statein which other data are stored in all the spaces between each of thereading-directionally divided file data. The term “other data” in abovedefinitions corresponds to other file data or any data other than filedata. Regarding the case shown above, the divided file data would becompletely discontinuous if β is set taking only odd or even numbers. Inthis way, digital file data and deletion condition data attached to itis distributed from the file distribution server 2 to the user terminal4, and then the data is stored in the user terminal.

The process of playing back the digital file that is stored in the userterminal 4 is described below, based on FIG. 6.

When the management program is started on the user terminal 4, andselected to play back the digital file stored in the memory, theplayback process in the file data playback program is carried out. Asshown in FIG. 6, the program reads current time from a clock function inthe user terminal 4 (step S31), and then it loads the deletion conditionstored in the memory (step S32).

The deletion condition data is inserted at the head of digital filedata, and stored in the memory together with the file data after it isdivided and spread. Therefore, the process of loading the deletioncondition data starts with calculating the address X, Y in which thedeletion condition data is stored. The address is calculated accordingto the conversion rule (the above formula). Then the data is decryptedwith the cipher key, which is transferred from the server 2 togetherwith management program and stored in the user terminal 4.

Next, current time and the deletion condition data are compared (stepS33). If the deletion condition is not satisfied, the selected digitalfiles are played back (step S34). On the contrary, if the deletioncondition is satisfied, the digital file data stored in the memory aredeleted (step S35).

The playback includes three processes: (1) loading of the digital filedata that is stored in the memory after dividing and spreading, (2)decrypting of the loaded digital file, (3) playing back of thedeciphered digital file data. These processes can be carried out eitherin serial/parallel, or entirely in serial.

The loading process of the digital file data is done in the same way asthe loading process of deletion condition data. That is, the addresses Xand Y are calculated sequentially according to the conversion rule (theabove formula), and the data stored in the address are loadedsequentially. This loading process is denoted as a re-convertingprocess. The decrypting process is done similarly based upon the cipherkey, which is transferred with the management program and stored in theuser terminal 4. The playback process (step S34) ceases when theplayback of the contents is completed.

The deletion process (step S35) is a process to overwrite a part or allof the digital file data with other data. The address X, Y of thedigital file data is determined using the conversion rule (the aboveformula). After this process, the management program shows errormessages on the screen of the user terminal 4, and the messages notifyusers that the contents were deleted (step S36). By this display of theerror messages, the series of the deletion processes is completed.

As described above, in the file distribution system 1 in this case, therequested digital file data are divided according to the rules(conversion rule) set uniquely for each user, and then stored in theuser terminal 4 discontinuously spread. In addition, without themanagement program that has a re-conversion function of digital filesbased on the rules uniquely set for each user, the distributed filecannot be played back. Therefore, even if transferred digital files(converted digital files) are copied, general playback programs cannotplay back the copied files. In addition, because each management programdoes not have compatibility with each other, users cannot play backdigital file data that are distributed to other users. Furthermore, byconverting file data into divided-and-spread data group, analyzing andrestoring the data become highly difficult.

Hence, by using the file distribution system 1 of this case, pirating ofthe transferred files becomes meaningless, and this fact makes itpossible to prevent illegal usage of transferred files and piracy byillegal copying and the distribution of it.

In addition, the only management program that is necessary to play backthe files also carries out the deleting process of the distributeddigital file. Therefore, when users run the program in an attempt toplay back the digital file that is outside of the rental period, theprogram reliably deletes the invalid file.

Although so far an example of implementation for the present inventionis explained, specific ways of implementation that the present inventioncan carry out are not limited to the above description. For example, inthe above description, the management program that is run on userterminal 4 divides and spreads (converts) the distributed digital file,and stores it in the memory of user terminal 4. The implementation ofthe present invention, however, is not limited to the structuredescribed above. As shown in FIG. 7, the divide-and-spread process(contents data conversion) can be done in the transfer-processing unit26 (step 24′). The procedure of the divide-and-spread process can be thesame one as described above.

Although deletion condition data in the original explanation isdivided-and-spread as well as digital file data, it is possible toconvert only digital file data.

In addition, the conversion rule unique to each user is not limited tothe formula shown above. For example, one with a random number is alsoeffective.

Furthermore, it is although the example which distributes and storesboth sides of a file data playback program and file data in each userterminal, distribution storing only of the file data playback programmay be carried out, and the very thing may distribute only file datausing storage media, such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM.

On the other hand, the file data itself is distributed, and whenperforming the so-called streaming distribution which performs playbackin real time, the above-mentioned purpose can be attained by being withwhat has the distribution management module which manages the file datawhich transmits as a server for distribution according to the playbackdemand from a user terminal, and a playback stop demand for every userterminal.

Since a user terminal should have only the function which plays back thefile data only distributed when such a file data distribution server isused, even if it uses a general-purpose file playback program, itbecomes possible to ensure playback control.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the general structure of theabove-mentioned file distribution server. In addition to theabove-mentioned composition, this file distribution server 2 has thedistribution module 27 and the playback start position pointer 28.

The distribution management module 27 has the function which theplayback stop means had in the above-mentioned file playback program,and it has processing 27 a which starts a playback from the positionwhich the playback start position pointer 28 formed for every userterminal shows, and processing 27 b updates the above-mentioned playbackstart position pointer in a playback stop position.

That is, playback start processing 27 a is processing which acquires theposition information which the playback start position pointer 28 formedfor every user terminal shows, reads the file data of this position fromthe file data memory module 24, and outputs this to the transmittingprocessing module 26 continuously. In this way, if a stop instruction isreceived from user-terminal equipment 4, the processing which updatesthe corresponding playback start position pointer 28 of a user terminalin the position concerned will be made by resetting of pointer 27 b.

Moreover, the distribution management module 27 may have the processingwhich updates a corresponding playback start position pointer byreceiving the pointer change demand of the fast forward and rewindingfrom user-terminal equipment 4. In this case, after satisfying theprescribed playback conditions that, explained in the above-mentionedfile data playback program, it is desirable to give the function tosuspend updating processing of rewinding of the playback positionpointer.

Therefore, the file data playback program can play back filescontinually even if playback and stop are carried out repeatedly on onehand, files once played back are not played back again any more becauseplayback start position pointer is reset at the position where playbackis stopped by means to stop playing back on the other. Therefore, if itis used for playback of files for which payment is required that arefrequently played back and stopped repeatedly, it becomes possible torestrict playback without damaging the files.

1. A file data playback program which includes: means to playback afile; means to stop playback of a file; wherein said means to play backfile data are means to start playback from the position indicated by aplayback start position pointer, and said means to stop playing backfile data are means to carry out a step of stopping playback, and a stepof resetting said playback start position pointer at the playback stopposition, wherein said playback start position pointer is reset withsaid means to stop playing back file data.
 2. The file data playbackprogram according to claim I wherein said playback start positionpointer is updated by said playback stop position means or the pointercontrol means, and said pointer control means is a means to suspend theupdating function of said playback start position pointer, afterfulfilling prescribed playback conditions.
 3. The file data playbackprogram according to claim 1 or 2 further including means to delete saidfile data which ended a playback.
 4. The file data playback programaccording to claim 1 or 2 wherein the playback stop means includesprocessing that deletes the file data which completed the playback. 5.The memory medium wherein the file playback program which stores theprogram described in claim 1 or 2 is stored.
 6. A server for programdistribution connected to a user terminal through a communicationnetwork, and the distribution server for the file playback program whichdistributes programs described in claim 1 or
 2. 7. The file datadistribution system which comprises the program distribution serverdescribed in claim 6, the file distribution server and user terminal. 8.A server for file data distribution connected to a user terminal througha communication network comprising: a file data memory having digitalfile data to be transmitted, the distribution management unit whichmanages the file data which is transferred according to the playbackdemand from said user-terminal, and a playback stop demand for everyuser terminal and the transfer-processing unit which transfers the filedata stored in said file data memory according to the distributioncommand of a distribution management unit, wherein said distributionmanagement unit performs a step of a step which starts a playback fromthe position which a playback start position pointer shows and a stepwhich updates said playback start position pointer in a playback stopposition.
 9. The file distribution server according to claim 8, whereinsaid distribution management unit has a step which updates a playbackstart position pointer by the pointer change demand from a user terminaland after fulfilling prescribed playback conditions, updating processingof the playback position pointer by the pointer change demand ofuser-terminal is suspended.